The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) made a significant revelation on Friday, disclosing the interception of combat-ready Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, equipped with military hardware.
Customs Area Controller, Compt. Charles Orbih, shared this information during a briefing on the command’s activities in 2023, also highlighting that the command achieved a revenue of N30.5 billion between January and December 2023.
Compt. Orbih provided details on the combat drone’s specifications, including features like first aid box space, weapon storage, and an impressive 70-hour flight capacity. In addition to this combat drone, the command seized or detained 154 other drones, all lacking the crucial End User Certificate (EUC) from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), and surpassing the specified entry specifications for the country.
The Customs CAC underscored that the combat drone, weighing around 5,000 grams, had the potential to be used as a weapon of war and stressed its lack of the necessary EUC from the NSA. Moreover, he revealed that the revenue generated in 2023 exceeded the annual target by 5%, totaling N30.5 billion from imports.
The Customs CAC also highlighted the command’s accomplishments, such as the seizure of 330 military and security items, 126 walkie-talkies, and various contraband. He credited the seamless execution of these tasks to the commitment and diligence of the officers and units involved.
